MY BAD Good morning. About 15 minutes ago, I sent out today's Incoming newsletter. But I accidentally sent you yesterday evening's edition of our coronavirus newsletter instead. My apologies! (even though it's a very good newsletter). Here's today's actual Incoming newsletter. Consider it two for the price of one. Best wishes / please forgive me, Tom THE BIG STORY A million coronavirus cases in the US
It was only a month ago, on March 27, that we hit 100,000 confirmed coronavirus infections. Since then testing has ramped up in a big way, meaning tens of thousands of new cases are now being identified every day. But it’s not just the positive tests that have increased: a month ago, when the 100,000th person tested positive, the death toll was just 1,581. It’s over 58,000 this morning, and will cross 60,000 by the end of the week.
Here’s how things looked in the 10 hardest hit states on March 27, as published in that day’s edition of Outbreak Today, our daily coronavirus newsletter:
 In many states, the outbreak appears to have peaked and daily death tolls are declining. That’s putting more focus on what happens next, and how cities, states and businesses will manage their gradual reopening. Starbucks told BuzzFeed News yesterday that it’s planning to begin reopening its stores in May and have 90% of them open by early June — but only for to-go service. STAYING ON TOP OF THIS The allegation against Joe Biden
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has not personally responded to a sexual assault allegation first made by former staffer Tara Reade in late March. But as some aspects of her claims are corroborated and others contested, Biden is under growing pressure to directly address them.
So far, the main public statement has been a denial issued by a deputy campaign manager. But behind the scenes, the Biden team is working to coordinate how his prominent supporters talk about the allegation in the media, Ruby Cramer and Rosie Gray report.
Prior to Reade’s allegation, “there has never been a complaint, allegation, hint or rumor of any impropriety or inappropriate conduct like this regarding him — ever,” says one entry in a list of talking points sent to Democratic operatives and surrogates, and obtained by Cramer and Gray. The talking points also focus on a New York Times investigation into the claims, saying it “led to the truth: this incident did not happen” — although the Times report doesn’t make a conclusion one way or the other.
You can see the full talking points from the Biden campaign in our article here.
 IT'S NEWS O'CLOCK Our new podcast is live! BuzzFeed News has a new daily podcast, and it’s wonderful. News O’Clock comes out every evening, just in time for what you once would have called your after-work commute, and in the latest episode, Hayes Brown and Casey Rackham talk to Ryan Broderick about the wildest conspiracy theories on the internet. Check it out here! SNAPSHOTS The CDC has updated its list of coronavirus symptoms to watch for. Initially it listed just three – coughing, fever, and shortness of breath — but that has been expanded to nine symptoms, including a loss of smell and taste.
The impeachment trial of Donald Trump feels like it ended 100 years ago. But important legal battles related to the trial continue, and yesterday the Justice Department argued its case in one of them.
Crucial research into rare diseases affecting children has been put on hold due to the coronavirus. Hospitals and medical researchers have had to shift focus, putting other priorities on the backburner.
A mom who is out of work due to the coronavirus crisis has found a new line of business. She makes tiny picnic tables for squirrels, and they’re as amazing as you think they are.
 HELP US KEEP QUALITY NEWS FREE FOR ALL
BuzzFeed News is throwing everything we’ve got at covering the coronavirus pandemic, and more than ever before, we need your help to keep all this going. You can support our global newsroom by becoming a BuzzFeed News member. Our members help us keep our quality news free and available to everyone in the world, and you can join for just $5 a month (or whatever you can afford). If you’ve enjoyed our work and want to support it, please sign up.
THE DISAPPEARING PAY RAISE
A wine store gives, and it takes away
A national wine retail chain owned by a Democratic congressman earned praise for giving its workers a $2 an hour pay raise amid the coronavirus crisis. Then it quietly took it away, Katie Baker reports.
Total Wine & More is the country’s largest privately owned wine, liquor, and beer retailer, with 206 stores in 26 states. Cofounder David Trone is a Democratic member of Congress from Maryland, who has stressed time and again his concern for workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak.
Like many retail chains whose stores are especially busy right now and whose staff face serious health risks by showing up to work, the company announced a pay raise to recognize the hazards. Now, it’s canceling the raise, and workers are furious.
“There was no justification for taking it away,” said Antonio Arguinzoni, who works at a Total Wine store in Sacramento. “They just said it was stopping and everyone was going back to minimum or hourly wage.”
 Boston Globe / Getty Images NO PANTS TUESDAY Freedom comes in many forms
Will Reeve, an ABC reporter, went live on GMA yesterday wearing no pants. He looked sharp from the waist up in a shirt and jacket, but the camera angle accidentally revealed his bare legs.
There’s really not much more to this story, other than the fact that the thing we’ve always wondered – are TV hosts maybe wearing no pants behind those desks? — is actually true. Between this and the UFOs, it’s been a huge week for validating our secretly held beliefs.
David Mack reached out to Reeve to see if he had anything to say about the episode. His reply: "Let me get dressed and I’ll get back to you soon 😂."
Will Reeve is under no obligation to wear pants in these trying times, and neither are you,
Tom BuzzFeed, Inc.
111 E. 18th St.
New York, NY 10003
Unsubscribe |
